The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1887-08-11
FAKMERs' ORGANIZATIONS.
The Necessity of Them and the Good
to be Accomplished by Them.

The Necessity of Them and the Good
I to be Accomplished by Them:
Correspondence OF The Landmark
Since the agricultural association
was organized in Iredell county quite
a number of farmers have been per-
picked about joining that body. Some
say they would join if Mr.. - did
not belong; others, that farmers will
not remain organized long others
say it is not popular to belong to an
organization composed only of farm
ers and quite number are waiting
to see who joins. There are num-
ber of letters on my table before me
containing such questions as " What
do you propose to do ?' "Do you
think you can benefit the farmers
condition ?" Some Of the writer's ask
me to answer them through The Land
mark that they and also their friends
may understand our object.
This is fast age and the man or
set of men, who are satisfied to follow
in the paths trodden by our ancestors
and make no departure from the way
in which they did. business, will al
ways be behind and are unworthy of
the age in which they are living.
All the professional classes are or
ganized, and it is easy to observe that
they recognize the order they have
reduced their business to.
If it pays the professional man to
systematic his business, why not the
farmers organize and reduce all their
affairs to some method =?
The farming class of men do more
hard manual labor and the world is
more indebted to them than any other
class, and yet their affairs are more
neglected and more ignored by other
classes, than any other, line in proper
ton to it's extent. AL the professions
and the different lines of manufacture
ing interest in the country, in short,
everything but farming has laws of
business, customary rules, &c, by
which it is governed, except farming
and selling of farm products.
If farmer wants counsel he must
fee a lawyer, which is generally from
five to fifty te66ffg dollars. If his
family gets sick he calls in physician;
he must have from fifty cents to
dollar per mile, which he can travel in
few minutes. If his teeth decay
and he calls in D. D. S. who fills
few teeth, he charges him from five to
ten dollars for work which he will do
in two or three hours. If he wants
farming utensils he must pay the
manufacturer his price If he wants
fire arms, jewelry, musical instruments,
&C., he must pay fixed price. If he
wants goods and goes to the dealer he
not only pays for the manufacturing
but he finds added the merchants per
cent. Now in all this buying he finds
he must pay the price asked or do
without the goods .as r 49,.
How is it on the other hand when
he has a load Of produce to sell and
hauls it to market? He is not asked
what he will take but is told he can
have so much and if he will not take
it he can haul it back home. If he
has tobacco to sell he hauls it to town,
somebody else sells it for him and he
must pay given price for selling it
whether it brings that amount or not.
If he has pork to sell he must take
from four to seven cents per pound.
If he wants bacon in few weeks
afterward, he has to pay from ten to
fifteen cents per pound. He pays the
dealer more for few pounds of salt
that only cost one cent per pound and
for keeping his meat few weeks than
he gets for making it..
= Itis easy to be seen that farmers are
"hewers of wood and drawers of
water" for other classes of men. The
tillers of the soil in all ages have been
more contented, more w-abiding and
better citizens as rule than any other
class. AS they generally reside in
"the rural districts " this may be
partly the cause of it, nevertheless this
contentment has cost them a great
deal But the day has come when
the farmers have begun to realize their
situation, and while it does not become
them to abuse other classes for look
ing after their interest, for that is their
business, yet they see their situation
will never be benefited unless they